International tourism obtains its best results in 20 years | Tourism Articles

International tourism obtains its best results in 20 years

05/10/2009 05:16 Author

UNWTO

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Bangkok, Thailand, 2 February 2005 - After three years of stagnant growth, international tourism experienced a spectacular rebound in 2004. According to WTO World Tourism Barometer, presented to the media at a news conference in Bangkok, Thailand, international tourist arrivals reached an all-time record of 760 million - an increase of 10% over 2003.

International tourism obtains its best results in 20 years

The main purpose of the press conference was to present the Phuket Action Plan, adopted on 1 February by WTO's Executive Council at its special session in Kata Beach, Phuket. The Plan is aimed at accelerating tourism recovery in the Indian Ocean to ensure that the tourism sector in the afflicted countries emerges from the tsunami disaster stronger and more resilient than ever before. Last year's record results for Asia and the Pacific should go a long way to contributing to a rapid recovery.

Growth was common to all regions, but was predominantly strong in Asia and the Pacific (+29%) and in the Middle East (+20%). Double-digit growth was also registered in the Americas (+10%), while Africa (+7%) and Europe (+4%) performed below the world average, but still substantially improved their results of previous years. 2004 was marked by the strong rebound of Asia and the Pacific after the setbacks suffered in 2003 under the blow of SARS, by the return of the Americas to positive results and by the redistribution of overall tourism flows in Europe and in the Americas under the effects of the USD/euro exchange rate. The recovery of the world economy, and in particular of the economies of important American and European generating markets, strongly contributed to the very good results obtained in 2004. The fears of the impact of the oil prices were overall offset as the year went by and such increases were being absorbed by the dynamism of the world economy and seem to have not affected the consumers' travel confidence.

International tourism obtains its best results in 20 years

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